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Police investigate homicide on W. University Ave.

Gainesville police investigate a homicide that occurred near 1116 W. University Ave. in Gainesville Friday morning.

Doug Finger/The Gainesville Sun

By Jon SilmanStaff writer

Published: Friday, October 26, 2012 at 9:16 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 26, 2012 at 9:16 a.m.

The Gainesville Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred early Friday morning on West University Avenue.

GPD spokesman Officer Ben Tobias said a 911 caller reported an unidentified man lying face down on the ground near the area of 1116 W. University Ave. at 5:23 a.m.

A male was seen rummaging through the victim's pockets, police said. When police arrived, they found the victim but not the other man. The victim was transported to Shands at the University of Florida, where he later died.

Police said the attack appears to have occurred near the Bank of America and that the victim collapsed on a sidewalk beside the nearby Papa Johns restaurant at West 12th Street and University.

Crime scene tape had been placed around the front ATMs at the bank, which was open Friday morning, and around the Papa Johns and the Kabab House restaurant.

Tobias said it wasn't immediately clear whether the man seen rummaging through the victim's pockets was actually the killer.

A witness described him as a white man with a bald head, about 5-foot-11 with a large build. He was wearing khaki pants and a flowered shirt. A "box-style" white van, possibly a construction van, was nearby, Tobias said.

The victim was said to be a black male in his 50s, around 5-foot-10 with a heavy build, gray hair and a mustache. Police said they will release a photo of the man if they cannot confirm his identity.

GPD detectives were attempting to get surveillance video from the bank and were canvassing area businesses for information.

Anyone with information may call GPD at 955-1818 or Crime Stoppers at 372-STOP.

<p>The Gainesville Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred early Friday morning on West University Avenue.</p><p>GPD spokesman Officer Ben Tobias said a 911 caller reported an unidentified man lying face down on the ground near the area of 1116 W. University Ave. at 5:23 a.m.</p><p>A male was seen rummaging through the victim's pockets, police said. When police arrived, they found the victim but not the other man. The victim was transported to Shands at the University of Florida, where he later died.</p><p>Police said the attack appears to have occurred near the Bank of America and that the victim collapsed on a sidewalk beside the nearby Papa Johns restaurant at West 12th Street and University.</p><p>Crime scene tape had been placed around the front ATMs at the bank, which was open Friday morning, and around the Papa Johns and the Kabab House restaurant.</p><p>Tobias said it wasn't immediately clear whether the man seen rummaging through the victim's pockets was actually the killer.</p><p>A witness described him as a white man with a bald head, about 5-foot-11 with a large build. He was wearing khaki pants and a flowered shirt. A "box-style" white van, possibly a construction van, was nearby, Tobias said.</p><p>The victim was said to be a black male in his 50s, around 5-foot-10 with a heavy build, gray hair and a mustache. Police said they will release a photo of the man if they cannot confirm his identity.</p><p>GPD detectives were attempting to get surveillance video from the bank and were canvassing area businesses for information.</p><p>Anyone with information may call GPD at 955-1818 or Crime Stoppers at 372-STOP.</p>